Tim Scott: “Well, I think the gentleman's question really answers itself. The course in Project Alpha, and I have participated in…”

“Well, I think the gentleman's question really answers itself. The course in Project Alpha, and I have participated in many of the activities at the national convention and in classes in Project Alpha in my own home community in Virginia, and they teach responsibility, they teach abstinence, they teach safe sex; and it is done in such a way that they have the role models from the community coming in and explaining the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and avoiding the sexually transmitted diseases. These kinds of role models, I think, can show that they do have a future. One of the high risk factors of getting into trouble is when young people do not feel that they have a future. They tend to involve themselves in more risky behaviors because they think they have nothing to lose. When they see role models and can see a path, particularly a continuum of role models, some of the older ones, like the gentleman, and younger ones, like me, and even younger ones, they can see that they have a future within their life. They see that there are jobs available and careers available. And to the extent that they involve themselves in risky behaviors, they place that future at risk. So we challenge other groups to get involved in the same kinds of interaction with our young people, because we can have a significant impact in keeping them out of trouble to begin with and keeping them on the right track, and that is why Project Alpha is so important.”